Tuesday, 8 September 2009

Griffin on Question Time 'disgraceful BBC stunt'

MP Denis MacShane, the former president of the NUJ, has described the move to invite BNP leader Nick Griffin on Question Time as a "disgraceful BBC stunt".MacShane, writing on the Guardian's Comment is Free, says: "Question Time is not about rational debate but a ping-pong of point-scoring and gimmicks for cheap applause. Some of the audience will snarl at Griffin, some will cheer, when he denounces the number of foreigners in Britain or damns the EU. In fact, the only winner will be the BNP vote-bank."He adds: "This is not about democracy but about the BBC losing its sense of moral balance and editorial integrity. The BBC, rather than the Daily Mirror and Searchlight, should be exposing Griffin – not boosting his insatiable ego."MacShane urges Gordon Brown to make clear that no Labour minister or MP will appear with Griffin on Question Time "to validate this disgraceful BBC stunt". He concludes: "All democratic parties should make clear that if Griffin appears on Question Time, David Dimbleby can have him to himself."

About Me

I am a freelance journalist based in the UK and was deputy editor of Press Gazette, the journalists' magazine, from 1993 until 2006. I want to give an independent view on media matters.
You can contact me with stories, ideas and comments by email at jon.slattery369@btinternet.com You can also follow me on Twitter @jonslattery